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HELP...info needed on robbing...it's happening now

I have a small hive of one deep full of brood up to 8-9 frames full. Last week, I just started up a medium on top. I am using the 4" opening.

There is quite an excessive attack going on right now. Should I get suited up and go change the entrance reducer to the 1-2 bee opening size?

Also, every now and then I have seen bees try to enter my screened bottom board area from the rear of the hive. When I pull out the plastic drawer, there are a few dead bees on it. Do you think there is an area of the screened bottom that has too big an opening? Could it be defective? I have yet to look...

Re: HELP...info needed on robbing...it's happening now

Lori, yes you need to get suited up and reduce the entrance to where only a bee or twe can pass through it. this robbing will be hard to stop, if you have a garden hose nearby spray a fan of water over the hive and surounding area.

Re: HELP...info needed on robbing...it's happening now

I put a wad of dried cut lawn (recently mowed) to reduce the entrance to the 1-2 size.

I also removed the plastic lining drawer that is below the screened bottom board and noticed bees walking around the bottom of the screen. Some tumbling off in a fight. Is this normal or may I have a defective screen?

Re: HELP...info needed on robbing...it's happening now

You might bave a defective screen but without giving the bottom board a good inspection I would only be guessing, the tumbling and fighting shows that the hive is doing it's best to fend off this attack. Your dried lawn cutting was good quick thinking on your part.

Re: HELP...info needed on robbing...it's happening now

I would close off the hive completely, keep an eye out till the traffic calms down then open it in an hour or so, if it get crazy again close it up again.

The robbers trying to get in will give up in about an hour and go back home. When you open it up the robbers inside will leave full of honey and fly home and tell their sisters, who will come back and try again, but with the hole reduces and a little time for the hive to regroup they might defend themselves.

Re: HELP...info needed on robbing...it's happening now

The grass helped, but I don't believe it to be the best option to stop robbers. Less bees were fighting as none were on the ground walking/tumbling around, but I decided to change the entrance reducer to 1-2 bee size anyways. I will look in again in an hour. If things aren't appearing to resolve, I will take action as you say.

Re: HELP...info needed on robbing...it's happening now

i kinda wondered about that because when I sealed off my nuc with a few bees and the queen I was replacing, she died. I felt so bad that she suffered, yet kinda glad that I didn't have to personally kill her upon the arrival of my new queen.

I now am afraid to close off any hive system, but I see the point of doing so when there is a screened bottom board....